Amelia: The latest from Mira Nair (The Namesake) is a biopic about Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank). Early reviews haven’t been kind, suggesting that the film ticks off Earhart’s accomplishments without ever painting a full portrait of the aviation pioneer. “Why does such an exciting life make for such a dull movie?” asked A.O. Scott on At the Movies. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Boondock Saints: Two brothers take the law into their own hands in Boston, attracting the attention of an FBI agent (Willem DaFoe) investigating deaths in the Russian mob. This 1999 cult(ish?) flick has a sequel due out soon, so catch it now if you missed it 10 years ago. David Minor Theater.

Danger: Diabolik: This Italian 1960s supervillain film by Mario Bava screens as part of the superhero exhibition at the J-Schnitz. Shows with an introduction by the exhibit curator or a guest speaker. 5:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 4, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

Final Destination, The: It’s funny how this is the second series this year to either add or drop a “the” and pretend it’s a whole new title. Some kids think they’ve cheated death; death doesn’t like it. Lather, rinse, repeat. R. Movies 12.

Guerilla Screening Series: Eugene filmmaker showcase features Daniel Eli Dronsfield’s new film I Love Scaring the Scares With My Scars and Stares, and new work from Casey Larson-Brasted and Billy Dieball. 8 pm Friday, Oct. 30, David Minor Theater. $3. 21+.

Horror and the Horrific: Four-week UO film series continues with Land of the Dead, 6 pm Thursday, Oct. 29, 180 PLC, UO. Free.

Journey to India, A: Series continues with Earth, Deepa Mehta’s 1998 film about the religious and civil wars that were part of India and Pakistan’s battle to become independent of Britain (6 pm Thursday, Oct. 29), and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, a 2006 musical comedy about a man who begins to practice Gandhigiri to help people solve their problems (6 pm Thursday, Nov. 5). Mills International Center, EMU, UO. Free.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It: A behind-the-scenes look at the sold-out concerts that were to take place last summer in London. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Moon: Duncan Jones’ feature film debut stars Sam Rockwell as the lone worker on a lunar mining outpost. As his three-year contract draws to a close, things start to get very strange. Intimate in scope but with larger themes under the surface, Moon is a science fiction film that’s not been crossbred with the horror or action genres; it’s a modest delight, but absolutely worth seeing. Movies 12. (7/9)

Orphan: Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star as parents devastated by the loss of an unborn child. The kid they take in doesn’t exactly make things better. R. David Minor Theater.

Pandorum: Two disoriented astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) wake up on what seems to be a stranded, abandoned spaceship. What’s gone wrong, and what’s at stake? Something about this gives me Event Horizon flashbacks, except it appears the scope may be larger. R. Movies 12.

Serious Man, A: The latest from Joel and Ethan Coen is arguable one of their best yet; it’s the set-in-1967 story of professor Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), who looks to three rabbis for help dealing with an unfaithful wife, a couch-surfing brother and two problematic children — as well as a gorgeous, sunbathing neighbor. “Hauntingly original,” said New York magazine. R. Bijou. See review this issue.

CONTINUING:

Astro Boy: The beloved manga character comes to life on the big screen. With the voices of Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Bright Star: Jane Campion (The Piano)’s new period drama stars the astounding Ben Whishaw (Perfume, Brideshead Revisited) as John Keats, and tells the story of the intense love affair he had with the girl next door, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). “Bright Star satisfies a hunger we may not have known we had,” wrote the L.A. Times’ Kenneth Turan. PG. Bijou. (10/22)

Capitalism: A Love Story: Michael Moore’s latest, a look at the still-ongoing financial crisis, is getting mixed reviews; to some it’s an “emotional attack” and “scattershot and lazy,” while others think it’s moving and energizing. R. VRC Stadium 15. (10/8)

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant: When a bored high school kid and his buddy stumble upon a very magical sideshow, everything changes. Starring John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia and Salma Hayek. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: Portland critics were abuzz about this animated kids’ movie, which is apparently far more charming than the previews led us all to believe. Based on the book of the same name, it’s about a town where food, rather than the more ordinary forms of precipitation, falls from the sky. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Couples Retreat: Four Midwestern couples — among them Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell and Malin Ackerman — head off on a group retreat to a couples resort where couples therapy turns out to be necessary. Directed by Peter Billingsley, aka that kid from A Christmas Story. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

District 9: Producer Peter Jackson gets top billing, but this sci-fi film about aliens taking refuge in South Africa is actually the feature-film debut of director Neill Blomkamp. The buzz is beyond good; Blomkamp is already being dubbed one to watch. R. 112 min. Movies 12. (8/20)

Drag Me to Hell: Sam Raimi returns to the genre in which he made his name with this tale of a young loan officer (Alison Lohman) who crosses the wrong old lady (Lorna Raver) and finds herself under a nasty curse. PG13. David Minor Theater.

G.I. Joe: Oh, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, why are you in this movie? It’s based on toys, not screened for critics, and the trailers make people laugh. I think some stuff blows up, too. Movies 12.

Gamer: Gerard Butler plays a character in a massive multiplayer game; he’s controlled by a teenager who’s a sort of superstar among gamers, but the nasty game overlord (Michael C. Hall) wil keep them both down. R. Movies 12.

G-Force: Talking guinea pigs save the world! Or whatever. Is this just an entire film capitalizing on the animation used to create that creepy-eyed creature in the godawful Bedtime Stories? PG. Movies 12.

Hangover, The: This summer’s dirty-fun buzz movie stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifinakis and Ed Helms as three guys who have no idea what happened at the bachelor party last night. Where’d that guy’s tooth go? Where’d the baby come from? It’s a really good time finding out. Movies 12. (6/11)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The penultimate Potter tale is a touch complicated: Voldemort is at work in the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Dumbledore needs Harry’s help in many things, including recruiting a new professor to Hogwarts. Students are being attacked, and an old book is full of unexpected information. PG. Movies 12. (7/16)

Invention of Lying, The: Ricky Gervais (BBC’s The Office) stars as the man who brings lying to a world in which everyone always tells the truth — and finds fame and fortune in the process. ‘Course, things probably go wrong after that. With Jennifer Garner, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and Jeffrey Tambor. PG13. Cinemark.

Law Abiding Citizen: Ten years ago, Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler)’s family was murdered, but a plea bargain set one of the killers free. When the killer is released, he quickly turns up dead — and assistant DA Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx)’s family might be next! R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Paranormal Activity: The latest low-budget horror movie sensation is about a pair of twentysomethings whose new house is maybe not so empty, and maybe its residents aren’t so into the new tenants. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Paris: In multiple story strands, a man awaiting a heart transplant finds himself surrounded by his sister (Juliette Binoche) and her three children; a professor hopes for love; and a street vendor wonders what’s left after divorce. “Every character has life and depth,” says Roger Ebert. R. 130 min. Bijou.

Proposal, The: “High-powered” publishing exec Sandra Bullock makes her put-upon assistant (Ryan Reynolds) get engaged to her so she can stay in the U.S. As much as I’m starting to like Reynolds, this is too much ick — and contrived nonsense — for one film. PG13. Movies 12.

performance give the film its surprising staying power. David Minor Theater.

Saw VI: By this point, the horror is simply that these movies keep coming out. Sorry, did I say something? A detective is under investigation, but he’s still carrying on Jigsaw’s nasty legacy. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Stepfather, The: A young man (Penn Badgley) comes home from military school to find that his mother’s new boyfriend (Dylan Walsh) has moved in — and maybe isn’t so cool as mom (Sela Ward) thinks he is. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Time Traveler’s Wife, The: Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana star in this adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger’s bestselling book about a man cursed with a genetic anomaly that sends him skipping, uncontrollably, through time — and the woman who loves him despite that. PG13.107 min. Movies 12.

Up: In the latest film from Pixar, a crotchety old balloon salesman sends his house into the sky (via balloons, of course) to escape from it all — only to find that he has an unwanted stowaway on his porch. The praise is already flowing — and deserved. PG. Movies 12. (6/4)

Where the Wild Things Are: Spike Jonze adapts Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book into something more complicated and more elaborate than expected — yet it’s also decidedly handmade, unexpedtedly difficult and sweetly unsentimental, for the most part. With Max Records, Catherine Keener and the voices of James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, Catherine O’Hara and Lauren Ambrose. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (10/15)

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